Smith + James Events

About Smith + James Events

smith + james is a full-service wedding planning and event design studio located in Southern California. We are dedicated to creating elegant and thoughtful events for the discerning bride and groom.

Our clientele has taken us to venues across the country and around the globe. While we understand the importance of a beautiful event, our main priority is to remove the stress from the equation. We want our clients to enjoy the entire planning process and most especially their perfectly-crafted wedding day.

Behind The Brand

What’s your best piece of advice for wedding and event planning?

Don’t take inspiration from other weddings or get too caught up on Pinterest. Instead, take inspiration from other avenues: art you love, books you read, fashion that inspires you, or even look at your home for interior design inspiration. We like to think of an event in terms of interior design. We want to invite guests into a place reminiscent of a large, high-design entertaining space in a fabulous home.

Do you travel interstate/worldwide?

Yes, we are a destination wedding planning firm.

How does the process of wedding planning work?

We start with the look and feel, narrow down a budget, then tackle the to-do list step by step. Our clients always tell us they can’t believe how easy it was. We keep it pretty chill. You should be relaxed and having fun!

What elements of a wedding do you help with?

Name it, we do it.

How would you describe your style when it comes to your products and services?

Our aesthetic is aspirational, high-fashion. We like to push the envelope and our clients like to make the day feel elevated for everyone involved. We have a heavy hand when it comes to vendor interaction. We make sure the client’s voice is heard every step of the way so that the day looks and feels exactly as we’d envisioned it.

Editor’s Notes

Why we love it…

With an eye for luxury, the magic, and an air of intimacy, we love the personal, chic elegance that smith + james adds to their events. Bold and effortlessly romantic, each celebration has its own signature, yet is easily recognized as the work of this professional, polished, and experienced team.

For the couple…

Looking for an aspirational planner with attention to all of the details, who can take the stress out of your day and allow you and your guests to join you in an experience like no other.

Styling tips…

Think boldly black tie, stepping outside tradition and owning your authenticity to create a bespoke celebration where the styling is considered, refined, and elegant. Under desert skies or big city lights, dine with velvet napery, crystal cut glassware, a personalized cocktail, black roses en masse, and flickering candelabras, soundtracked to a live modern jazz quartet.

Credits 

Corbin Gurkin, Joel Serrato, Katherine Ann Rose, Kurt Boomer, Sally Pinera